Novak Djokovic doesn't believe an exemption is realistic and doesn't plan to get vaccine before the US Open.
The 21-time major champion and former world No. 1 has withdrawn from the upcoming US Open due to travel restrictions into the United States.
The announcement was made before the draw was to be announced. He said he wouldn't be able to travel to NY for the US Open.
He said he would keep in good shape and wait for the chance to compete again.
Sadly, I will not be able to travel to NY this time for US Open. Thank you #NoleFam for your messages of love and support. โค๏ธ Good luck to my fellow players! I'll keep in good shape and positive spirit and wait for an opportunity to compete again. ๐ช๐ผ See you soon tennis world! ๐๐ผ
โ Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) August 25, 2022
After winning Wimbledon in July, he said he hoped the U.S. would change its policies and allow him to play at the final major. He posted a video on July 30 of himself on a hard court.
He wrote that he was waiting to hear if there was any room for him to travel to the US.
Due to Canada's similar restrictions, he was barred from entry to both the Western & Southern Open and the National Bank Open.
It has been a challenging year for the Serbian. After receiving a medical exemption to play at the Australian Open in January, he was involved in an international legal battle that resulted in him having his visa revoked and being deported from the country before the tournament started. He was not able to defend his title and was willing to skip tournaments that required him to be vaccine free.
"Yes, that is the price that I'm willing to pay," he said.
Before the clay portion of the season began in April, he played in just one event. He was replaced at the top of the rankings by another person. In June, he lost the top spot for the second time.
He won his first title of the year in Rome in May, but he couldn't defend his French Open title because he lost to Nadal in the quarterfinals. Even though he won his fourth straight trophy at the All England Club last month, no ranking points were given to him because of the ban on Russians. After the tournament, he fell to 7 in the rankings.
After reaching the final at the US Open, he will lose 1200 points and his ranking will go down even further.
The Serbian team will play at the Davis Cup while the European team will play at the Laver Cup. At both events, ranking points are not given. On his website, there are no tournaments listed.
There will be a lucky loser in the drawing.
There are other players who won't be at the US Open.
The play is expected to start on Monday.
The AP contributed.
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